Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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612. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding Ireland's overseas development programme in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34168/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, which is at the heart of our foreign policy. “One World, One Future” our policy for international development, sets out our vision for a sustainable and just world, and reaffirms our commitment to the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) on Official Development Assistance (ODA). We have stated clearly that we intend to make further progress on this commitment as our economic recovery consolidates. The Taoiseach repeated the commitment when he addressed the United Nations in New York on 25 September, at the Summit to adopt the new framework for global development, the 2030 Agenda. Ireland played an important role in the negotiation of the framework, and also in helping broker the agreement within the EU to recommit to achieving the 0.7% target within the timeframe of the 2030 Agenda. I am not in a position at this stage to confirm the allocation for 2016 for ODA, which will be announced in the Budget Statement next week. I am making the strongest possible case for an increase in the allocation to Official Development Assistance, in line with our commitment to the fight against poverty and hunger in some of the poorest countries in the world, and our response to the unprecedented level of humanitarian need worldwide, and especially in Africa and the Middle East.